Timeline: Nepal protests

Below is a chronology of key events in Nepal since Februray 1, 2005, when the monarch suspended a multi-party government and pledged to crush a Maoist revolt that has killed more than 13,000 people since 1996.

20 Apr 2006 08:03 GMT

Protesters have vowed to defy government curfews

February 1, 2005 - King Gyanendra sacks the government of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the prime minister, then declares a state of emergency and takes power.

February 22 – India and Britain announce they have stopped military aid to Nepal, but India resumes non-lethal military supplies.

April 30 - The king ends the state of emergency but retains the powers he seized.

September 1 - The largest political party, Nepali Congress, drops a 60-year-old written pledge to uphold constitutional monarchy.

September 3 - Maoist rebels announce a unilateral, three-month ceasefire but the royalist government rejects the truce, saying the rebels could not be trusted.

November 22 - The seven main political parties and Maoists pledge to co-operate to end the absolute powers of the king.

December 2 - Rebels extend truce by one month; government rules out matching gesture.